Editorial: KNUST statement on herbal drug: FDA must pierce the veil

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) recently issued a statement where it announced to the general public that it has given approval for the clinical trials of Cryptolepis Sanguinolenta (CS), locally known as Nibima, for the treatment of Covid-19.

According to the FDA, laboratory studies had already been conducted on the herbal medicine by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) research team, which proves the efficacy of the medicine against the novel Coronavirus.

“In the search for the treatment for the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, researchers from the School of Public Health at the KNUST submitted a clinical trial application in September 2020 to assess the safety and efficacy of Cryptolepis Sanguinolenta as a potential treatment for Covid-19. This follows results from the laboratory studies conducted by the KNUST research team, which point in the direction of possible clinical benefits,” FDA said.

A few days after this statement had been issued, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) also issued another statement, but, this time, warning the public not to use the herbal preparation because it was still undergoing clinical trials.

According to KNUST, although preliminary results from its laboratory strongly point in the direction of potential clinical benefits, however, its team wants to caution the general public against the mass use of CS for Covid-19 treatment until there is enough scientific evidence from the clinical trials and subsequently market authorisation from the FDA.

On the face of it, one will be tempted to believe the sincerity of KNUST in the issuance of this statement, but The Chronicle completely disagrees. In every clinical trial, the drugs are not yet on the shelves for the public to purchase. The use of the drug, at this stage, is under severe monitoring and control of the regulating bodies, including the manufacturer.

It is, therefore, very intriguing for KNUST to have issued this statement warning the public not to patronise the drug, knowing very well that the herbal preparation is not yet on the market for the masses to buy. We, at The Chronicle, see KNUST’s statement as a back door advertising strategy to draw the attention of the public to the drug.

It is common to see drug peddlers in our vehicles and trotros repeatedly warning passengers not to use a drug they are advertising, if the buyer is pregnant, because usage can abort pregnancy.

Though this may sound as good advice, they are, in truth, telling the passengers that they are selling drugs that can abort pregnancy. The Chronicle does not want to believe that KNUST is also adopting the same old strategy to market its products.

If this Cryptolepis Sanguinolenta is available at all, it will be in the laboratory of KNUST and others where the drug was initially tested, or health facilities approved for the clinical trials. So where is the public going to get the drugs to buy to warrant the warning by KNUST?  Does it also mean that they have already released the herbal drug that is yet to receive certification onto the market, and fearing the backlash have to quickly issue a statement?

We insist that the statement by KNUST is a clear indication that something is behind the veil and the FDA has the duty to pierce it and uncover what has been hidden, because the statement simply does not add up.

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